With only eight weeks until the 2005 General Assembly in Indianapolis, event planning is entering its final stages. A gathering this week at Nazarene Headquarters involving department directors, managers, planners, and some special guests revealed a persistent positive outlook as the days to the quadrennial event, which will once again include a massive outreach project, draw nearer.

"The impact of General Assembly to many of the inhabitants of Indianapolis", stated One Heart, Many Hands (OHMH) spokesperson Laura Sylvester, "is really demonstrated by the One Heart, Many Hands service project." Sylvester, along with her husband, Ron, are coordinating this considerable Work and Witness project, now a perennial feature at General Assembly. Sylvester reported, “We have 1,450 registrations for the project as of April 18, compared with only 450 registrations we had at this same time for the 2001 General Assembly." She continued, “Organizations and corporate entities like the city of Indianapolis code enforcement personnel, Rolls Royce associates, and others have been given the option of volunteering as a worker at one of the many service projects associated with OHMH. Presently, Ron Sylvester has organized 110 homes targeted for enhancement through the efforts and energies of OHMH participants.

Geneva Silvernail, Nazarene Missions International (NMI) Convention coordinator, provided updated information on NMI's 24/7 prayer initiative supporting the events of General Assembly and the conventions. Silvernail stated, “Rooms are being secured in the adjacent hotels that will be designated prayer rooms for prayer volunteers in a round-the-clock prayer effort."

Many Nazarenes have inquired about possible satellite broadcasts of General Assembly services. It was confirmed during the April 18 meeting that there would be no satellite broadcasts this year, but web casts would be available through www.nazarene.org and www.ncnnews.com. Also, archived broadcasts of 2005 General Assembly services will be available through these sites.

The 2005 General Assembly and Conventions will be held June 22-July 1 in Indianapolis. For more information, see www.nazarene.org/gensec/assembly_05.html.

Future information about General Assembly can be found on
www.nazarenegeneralassembly.org

--NCN News